Garments with detectable marks

ABSTRACT

Garments are formed with marks or stitching which carry a substance detectable by magnetic detecting devices. When the magnetized substance on the garment part is detected in a process of making garments, subsequent garment making steps are actuated in response to the detection of the stitching.

United States Patent Huddleston 1 Oct. 31, 1972 [54] GARMENTS'WITH DETECTABLE [56] References Cited MA K [72] I t S E H dd 7 M UNITED STATES PATENTS 1': r e e 11 ton Ga a 2,746,412 5/1956 Roseman ..112/262 B 2,812,733 11/1957 Du V81 ..112/121.27 1 Asslsnw rd 111111 11111, 1116., Atlanta, Ga. 2,965,982 12/1960 Satfir ..36/58.5 x 22 Filed: April 29 1971 3,422,460 1/1969 Burke Ct 81. ..2/73

[21] Appl.N0.1 3 Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest 7 R Us. Applicafion D. Attorney-Jones & Thomas [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 851,921, Aug. 1 I S C 1969 3661016 Garments are formed with marks or stitching which carry a substance detectable by magnetic detecting (g1. "2124311, 112126: devices when the magnetized substance on the gap [.1 ment p is detected in a process of making garments [58] Fleld 61 Search 2/243 R; 112/262, 121.25, subsequent garment making steps are actuated in response to the detection of the stitching.

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Pmimmucm I972 INVENTOR ERIE GEORGE HlDDELSTON ATTOMYS 1 GARMENTS WITH DETECTABLE MARKS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I the garment fabricating process. The development of sewing machines, conveyors, fabric folders, stackers, and switches and electric eyes to actuate and deactuate the various machines have come into common use.

However, even with the use of the many machines recently developed in the garment fabricating industry a large percentage of the movement and placement of garment parts with respect to the various machines is still being carried out by hand. The skill of the machine operator is still required to properly position garment parts for stitching, cutting etc., since no reliable detecting or switching mechanism has been developed to perform these functions. While electric eyes and microswitches have been developed for the detection of garment parts and the actuation of sewing and cutting machines in response to the detection of a garment part, many of the garment fabricating functions performed do not depend on the mere presence or absence of garment parts as might be detected by electric eyes or micro-switches. For instance, the placement of belt loops on waistbands and the cutting of material are usually performed by operators that orient the garment parts and connect, fold or cut the garment parts with knowledge of what the end-product will look like and how the garment parts must be treated in orderto create the finished product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises a method and apparatus for manufacturing garments wherein garment parts which carry a magnetized mark or magnetized stitching are moved through an automated garment manufacturing process and the mark or stitching is detected and is used as a reference point on the garment part to actuate various garment making steps, such as cutting, folding, stitching, and positioning garment parts together. The specially treated thread which forms the stitching or the mark applied to the garment parts carry iron particles, and the thread or mark is passed through a magnetic field.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a garment part which carries a detectable mark or stitching for the actuation of various garment fabricating steps.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of making garments which uses a detectable mark or stitching in a garment part to actuate steps in the process.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for detecting particular marks or threads in garment parts and for performing various garment making processes in response to the detection of such marks or threads.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing is a schematic illustration of a continuous process of making waistbands for pants.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While a process for forming waistbands is disclosed herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention can be practiced in various other environments to produce various other products.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing, a method of making waistband sections for pants is illustrated in which waistband panels 11 are fed from a stack 10 of waistband panels through a path 12, and various other garment parts are attached to the waistband panels. Waistband panels 11 are stitched in end-to-end relationship by a sewing means such as sewing machine 14. The thread 15 used by sewing machine 14 is specially treated, as by being impregnated with a liquid which bears particles of iron or iron oxide. Of course, the liquid can comprise various concentrations of iron particles and can include binders, etc., necessary to cause the iron particles to cling to the thread. Sewing machine 14 includes a coil 17 with a center opening, and thread is passed through the coil opening prior to passing through the needle of the sewing machine. The coil is charged with a D.C. current, and

the magnetic flux of the iron particles on the thread become re-oriented as the thread passes through the coil thus causing the thread to become magnetized. The stitch formed by the sewing machine normally will have a stitch structure so that the threads exposed on the upper surface of the garment part are approximately parallel and the flux of the iron particles in the thread generally will be accumulative and generally will not cancel out.

Sewing machine 14 forms a seam or stitching 16 between garment parts 11. As the garment parts are moved further along path 12, a band 18 of facing material is fed into abutting and overlapping relationship with the continuous edge of the series of waistbands panels 11, and sewing machine 19 forms a rocap seam and connects facing material 18 to the waistband panels 11 to form a continuous strip of waistband material 20.

As the waistband material moves along path 12, and magnetic detector or head 22 detects the presence of stitching l6 and energizes a labeling machine (not shown) which dispenses a label 24 from the stack of labels 25 onto the facing material 18 and begins the sewing of the label 25 with its sewing machine 26.

As the continuous strip of waistband material 20 moves further along path 12, belt loops 28 are applied thereto from the continuous strip of belt loop material 29. The continuous strip of belt loop material 29 is fabricated from belt loop panels 30 which were previously cut from the same material as waistband panels 11. Belt loop panels 30 are tacked by sewing machine 31 in end-to-end relationship with a temporary stitch 32. The thread from which stitching 32 is formed is also impregnated with a liquid which bears particles of iron, and the thread is passed through a coil 33 to orient the flux of the particles. As the belt loop panels are moved toward the path 12 of waistband material 20, a band of stiffening tape 34 is moved into overlying relationship with belt loop panels 30, and the belt loop panels 30 are folded over and sewed about stiffening tape 34 with sewing machine 35. As the belt loop material 29 moves further along its path toward the path of movement of waistband material 20, the magnetized stitching 32 is detected by detector 38, cutting mechanism 39 is actuated to cut belt loops 28 from the strip of belt loop material 29. The arrangement of the cutting mechanism 39 is such that the belt loop material 29 will be cut at stitchings 32 and at spaced intervals behind each stitching 32 to form belt loops of a predetermined length.

In the meantime, as waistband material 20 moves further along its path 12, detector 41 detects the presence of stitching 16 and in response thereto controls the feeding of belt loop material 29 and the belt loops 28 cut therefrom and places the belt loops in overlying relationship with waistband material 20. Sewing machine 42 is also controlled by detector 41, and sewing machine 42 stitches belt loops 28 to waistband panels 1 1, as shown.

After belt loops 28 have been attached to waistband material 20, detector 45 senses the presence of the stitchings 16 to actuate cutting mechanism 46 and 48 which cut both facing material 18 and the stitching between waistband panels 11 to form completed waistband sections 49. Cutting mechanism 46 functions to cut straight across waistband material 20 and stitchings 16, while cutting mechanism 48 is actuated upon the sensing of alternate ones of stitchings 16 to cut alternate waistband sections 49 with a slanted cut to remove a portion 50 of the band of facing material 18 away from alternate ones of the waistband sections 49.

At this point, waistband sections 49 are separately formed and are placed in a stack 51 where they can be processed in an orderly manner to another station and connected to the pant legs, etc.

In order to facilitate subsequent folding, cutting and stitching functions necessary in the completion of the garment, the rocap seam formed by sewing machine 19 can also be formed with magnetized thread, and the stitching performed by sewing machine 42 in attaching belt loops 28 to waistband panels 11 can be of magnetized thread. The use of the specially treated thread enables subsequent machines to sense the presence of the stitching formed by the thread, and fold, cut and stitch these garment parts, as may be desired, and reduce the number of manual steps that must be performed by a machine operator.

While detecting devices have been disclosed for actuating the operation of each garment treating device, it should be understood that one detecting apparatus can be utilized to control the operation of several garment treating devices. For instance, a single detector can be positioned along the path of the waistband material and the detection of a seam 16 at one location can be utilized to trigger both the beginning of one stitching or cutting function and to trigger a time delay device which ultimately actuates a subsequent function. As long as the waistband panels 11 are of uniform length and there are not variables in the system, a single detection of stitching 16 can control all the subsequent stitching, cutting and placement in the process which is dependent upon the location of stitching 16.

While it has been disclosed that the magnetized thread becomes magnetized upon passing through a coil, the thread can be sewn in the garment parts without passing through a coil, and the thread can be passed with the garment parts beneath a coil in the path of travel of the garment parts. This causes flux of all of the iron particles to become oriented properly, regardless of the stitch fonnation, thus magnetizing the thread.

It should be noted that the stitching formedwith thread impregnated with iron particles is located in portions of the garment parts that will normally not be exposed in the completed garment. Thus, when the garment parts are made in this manner the magnetic stitching does not have to be removed from the garment before the garment is sold. Furthermore, the color of the thread normally will be matched with the color of the garment part. Also, the binder can be water soluble so that the magnetic stitches can be washed to remove the iron particles.

While the disclosed process has been broadly set forth in schematic form, the various machines utilized to perform the process are substantially conventional, and for the most part, are available on the market place. For instance, the sewing machine utilized to form the stitches, the cutting devices utilized to cut the belt loops and to cut the band of facing material are substantially conventional.

While the invention has been set forth as comprising magnetized stitching to form the reference marks on the garment parts, the magnetized detectable portions of the garment parts can be applied by forming dots or stripes of iron particle-bearing liquid on the garment parts, either in the cutting room, or as the garment parts are processed through the sewing room. For instance, dots or stripes of iron oxide liquid form can be applied with marking devices of the type illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,562,817 and the marks can be moved with the garment parts beneath a DC. coil which creates a magnetic field of sufficient magnetic flux or strength to re-orient the flux of the iron particles and activate or magnetize the mark on the garment part. The magnetized mark isthen detected by a magnetic detector or head, as previously described, and the other process steps will take place in response to the detection.

While the invention has been set forth in connection with the fabrication of waistband sections for pants, or the like, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the various detecting, cutting, stitching, folding and placement steps can be carried out on different garment parts or in relation with other textile goods, and the invention disclosed herein is not limited to the fabrication of waistband sections. Thus, while this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variationsand modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinbefore and as defined in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. In a method of manufacturing garments or the like, the improvement comprising the steps of marking garment parts with magnetized substance, moving the garment parts along a predetermined path in the garment making process, detecting the magnetized mark as it moves along the path, and performing another step in the garment making process in response to the detection of the magnetized mark.

2. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of marking garment parts with magnetized substance comprises stitching the garment parts with a magnetized thread. v

3. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of marking garment parts with a magnetized substance 5. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of marking the gannent parts with a magnetized substance comprises sewing the garment parts together with thread which includes iron particles.

6. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of marking the garment parts with a magnetized substance comprises forming a seam between adjacent garment parts with thread which carries iron particles.

7. A method of forming garments or the like comprising joining together a plurality of similar garment parts with a stitching of magnetically detectable thread to form a series of connected garment parts, moving the connected series of garment parts along a predetermined path, magnetically detecting the stitching as the stitching moves with the series of garment parts past a predetermined position along the path, and performing another garment-making step on the series of garment parts in response to the detection of the stitching at another position spaced from the predetermined position along the path.

8. In method of making garments or the like, the improvement comprising the steps of sewing together garment parts with a stitching of thread which is magnetically detectable with respect to the garment parts, moving the garment parts along a predetermined path, detecting the magnetically detectable stitching at a predetermined position along the path as the garment parts move along the path, and performing another garment-making step on the garment parts at another posi-- tion along the path which is spaced from the predetermined position along the path in response to detecting the stitchingat the predetermined position along the path. 

1. In a method of manufacturing garments or the like, the improvement comprising the steps of marking garment parts with magnetized substance, moving the garment parts along a predetermined path in the garment making process, detecting the magnetized mark as it moves along the path, and performing another step in the garment making process in response to the detection of the magnetized mark.
 2. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of marking garment parts with magnetized substance comprises stitching the garment parts with a magnetized thread.
 3. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of marking garment parts with a magnetized substance comprises stitching the garment parts with thread impregnated with iron particles, and passing the stitching with the garment parts through a magnetic field of sufficient strength to re-orient the flux of the iron particles.
 4. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of marking garment parts with a magnetized substance comprises applying an iron particle-bearing liquid to the garment parts and passing the iron particles with the garment parts through a magnetic field of sufficient strength to re-orient the flux of the iron particles.
 5. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of marking the garment parts with a magnetized substance comprises sewing the garment parts together with thread which includes iron particles.
 6. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of marking the garment parts with a magnetized substance comprises forming a seam between adjacent garment parts with thread which carries iron particles.
 7. A method of forming garments or the like comprising joining together a plurality of similar garment parts with a stitching of magnetically detectable thread to form a series of connected garment parts, moving the connected series of garment parts along a predetermined path, magnetically detecting the stitching as the stitchiNg moves with the series of garment parts past a predetermined position along the path, and performing another garment-making step on the series of garment parts in response to the detection of the stitching at another position spaced from the predetermined position along the path.
 8. In method of making garments or the like, the improvement comprising the steps of sewing together garment parts with a stitching of thread which is magnetically detectable with respect to the garment parts, moving the garment parts along a predetermined path, detecting the magnetically detectable stitching at a predetermined position along the path as the garment parts move along the path, and performing another garment-making step on the garment parts at another position along the path which is spaced from the predetermined position along the path in response to detecting the stitching at the predetermined position along the path. 